As Texas students return to school this fall, Livingston ISD is participating in the Texas School Safety Center’s new public awareness campaign, Threats Are No Joke!, is to educate students and parents about the serious consequences of making or sharing threats. Intended for grades 4 - 12, the campaign includes a powerful PSA video and supporting resources to share the message, Threats Are No Joke! Don’t do it. Don’t share it. Report it!

The video depicts how a single text message shared among students quickly escalates into chaos, triggering fear, confusion, and a full law enforcement response. This PSA serves as a critical reminder that there’s no such thing as “just a joke” when it comes to threats about school violence, school safety, or harm to others.

“When someone makes a threat, whether they mean it or not, it can put everyone’s safety at risk,” says Dr. Kathy Martinez-Prather, TxSSC director. “Many students and parents don’t know that even sharing or joking about a threat can be illegal. This video aims to change that and emphasize that threats to school safety are a crime and carry real consequences.”

The video features a law enforcement officer discussing the legal consequences of making or sharing threats, and a Texas School Safety Teen Ambassador encouraging students to report threats by telling an adult they trust, such as a parent, teacher, or coach.

“Many times, students share things on social media or with our friends, and we don’t realize that it can spread fear and panic,” Sebastian, a Texas School Safety Teen Ambassador, says. “It is our responsibility to help keep our schools and friends safe,

and speaking up is how we stay safe.”

Livingston ISD also encourages students and families to report threats or concerning information through the STOPit anonymous reporting system on our website. The video and resources, including teacher and parent guides, posters, and social media graphics, are available to educators and the public at no cost on the TxSSC’s website.

The Texas School Safety Center is a university-level research center at Texas State University with the mission to serve schools and communities to create safe, secure, and healthy environments. To learn more about this program, visit the Texas School Safety Center website.

Yours in Service,

Dr. Jeff Pack, LISD Superintendent